Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-24
TIE SOLDIERS HOME
A REPORT AS TO ITS CONDITION AND
NEEDS.
Humber OF Inmates-Few Applications
Management Of the Institution
Lea Camp, &C.

rs INlDE uihtl IlutttI vi
corning the Soldiers Home
RICHMOND, VA.
10 Coionci /. i. HWips, com
manGcr ot f. T.. Lee Caolp, No.
!, CoufcGcrdfe Tctcrans:
Sir,-I had the honor to be appointed
by the Governor OF the state his proxy
on the Board Of inspectors OF the sol
diers Home, in accordance with Article
VI. Rules Of Order OF that body, AMI
beg leave 10 make the following report
in obedience 90 the above appoint
mcnt. ! visited the Soldiers Home, ac-
comparicd 10y General John u: Cooh''
Colonel \. J.. Phillips, and MAJOR
Brander. of the camp, and WIS re-
ceiycd by General W. Il. Terry. the
SUPERINTENDENT Of the Home, AMI his
staff, vino kindly Afforded me every
facility for thoroughly inspecting the
grounds, buildings, and quarters OF me
inmates, and for examining into all
Of the details OF the management
of the institution. ! was at once
IMPRESSED on entering the grounds
with the air of order and Sys-
tenn that was everywhere apparent,
as exhibited in ats well-cared.ior
Grass. The trimmed trees and pasture
Of flowers that adon the grounds,
tcrether with the picturesque cot
taccs set in a crescentlc form near the
main building, make picture express
sive Of taste and comfort The rooms,
bedding. mess halls, and Offices, &c.,
were found to be scrupulously neat AMI
well appointed. The veterans SCENE |
10 cnioy the rest md comfort afforded
them here. and could be seen i'll their
COSY rooms engaged in various ways ~
suited their pleasure, some III reading,
some ia smoking or playing innocent
Games. or gathered in groups of twos
and fhrees talking "overthclr wounds,
discussing their campaigns, shoulder
ing their crutch and showing how fields
were won." was informed that there
are 125 on the roster but that %
to 100 IL the average number
present for duty, the others be-
ing on Through or awaiting y
vacancy to enter the institution.
Ont Of this number there are generally
twenty-five to thirty from other States
of the Confcdcracy. At this time
there are SIX from South Carolina, one
from Texas, two from Georgia, three
from North Carolina, two from Ten
nesscc. one from Alabama, and one
from Kentucky. The cost per capita
for the slstentation of the veterans, in
GLIDING in such estimate the entire eX-
uensos Of the establishment, clothing
&c, is about Sl2O per annum, the
actual costs of meals alone Is l. cents
. day per man.
lie applications for admission nave
been largely greater than the capacity
of the buildings would accommodate,
and ont Of proportion to the means Oh
tanned from all sources for their sup
pot. These facts being known very
generally to those who are anxious TO
he admitted, the number of applicA-
tons mt this time are not As M
mcrous rs they have been, but rs soon
as more funds can be raised there
will be n great demand for aims
SION lv those who are now deferred
from applying. 1t will be seen from
the facts stated above that the nome Is
not exclusively for Nirginians, but that
lis doors are open to all worthy Con
fclcratos from any State or cline. As
the result of this heroic struggle for
| freedom the Confederate States lost
everything save honor and the heri-
taoe of the SCARED and battered sur
yiyors. whose shattered health and I'M
povcrished condition made them either
dcpendcnt upon the charity of their
| friends or inmates of almshouses. WEI
the southern people, who are eager and
uroud to appropriate the reflected glD-
ry arising from the deeds of yalor and
suffering of these patriotic men, be
grudgc the pittance required for their
supuort for few years longer, until
thev shall answer the last rOll-call on
earth? VIII not our sister southern
States make annual appropriations to
this noble institution, where their sol
dicrs, like Vireinians, will pass the
residue of their lives in comfort ani
peace? Virginia approprlatos what she
considers an honorable sum in h.r
present financial difficulties, but It Is
! hoped that the Legislature will find it
to lie its duty to increase the present
insufficient amount for the support OF
her disabled soldiers.
The South pays millions in pension
ing her fomcr enemies, it is true, but
she should have still enough left to take
care Of her own soldiers, feeling that
they are II glorious legacy Of fate Left
Us by the chances of war.
70 the members Of Camp Lee il
! Justly due the thanks of al for the no
blc work they begun and have coa,in-
ued So we'll despite the seeming insur-
mountablc Oh slnclos, and they have the
proud satisfaction OF feeling that but
Tor their energy and labor, this humsnr
refuge for oar bray. would got
have been in cXist,uce. agi they Them
selves would not low be- enjoying th'
luxury Of doing GOOD. {" tIe ,rn.
clous donors OF many of the cottages
and ofthe beautiful chapel and othcrH
r!ous gifts the DISSOLUTION that follows
NJ "a noble deeds WiilalwaySaaidr. The
management OF the institution j. su
p1intcndcd by General ". T. Terry,
siCtd hv Nls Terry, the matron, both
Of whom arr excellent officers AMI kiui
friends Of the soldiers. To them bc-
long the praisc ior the able manage
mont Of The general and domestic dc
palmert~. The medical department
is under tie charge OF Surgeon Il. B..
>tcvrr and Assistant Surgeon j.. /
trauk.iu. who give their service and
time to the sick OF the institution for 81
nominal sun, prc.euing to recriy.
their IeGl rccompense from the gti,!-
tude o. their patients
Hoping tina: the honorable efforts o.
tie Lee Camp may be still further r..
wmGcd by state aud private donations
am, very respectfully, yonrs, a.,
j. :. Dorsey CULLEN,
Proxy for the Governor Of Yirginn on
Ioard OF Inspectors for the Soldiers
lone
Kceto or cato: